It’s all crashing down for George Santos, just like we always knew it would.
The disgraced New York lawmaker, who fabricated virtually every aspect of his resume, was indicted and taken into federal custody Wednesday. Santos’ 13-count indictment includes seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.
He was taken into custody at the FBI’s offices in Melville, Long Island.
Santos has been the target of numerous investigations into his personal and campaign finances ever since he was seated in Congress earlier this year. After narrowing flipping a blue district in Long Island red, he was exposed as a fabulist, with the New York Times finding he lied about his biography, education, family background and work history.
The scandals involving Santos, who identifies as gay, are wide ranging. He’s been accused of having a secret ex-wife, working as a drag queen in Brazil (while supporting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation) and falsely claiming his mother died in the 9/11 attacks. Santos was also called out for lying about his Jewish ancestry, to which he replied, “I never claimed to be Jewish. I said I was ‘Jew-ish.'”
The bulk of the indictment against Santos focuses on allegations that he used fraudulent political donations for personal expenses, such as buying designer clothing and making credit card payments, the Times reports.
In addition, Santos is being accused of fraudulently claiming unemployment benefits, and knowingly making false statements on financial disclosure forms.
Messy!
Gay Twitter™ reacted to his latest woes in kind…
federal investigators indicting her pic.twitter.com/vyV38O8LKw
— JB 🐻🪩 (@JBfromDC89) May 10, 2023
I am cackling
— you’ve got to be kidding (@Chiffres1_2) May 10, 2023
Diva down!
— GlitterH0le (@glittrh0le) May 10, 2023
In recent weeks, Santos, who’s already announced he’s running for re-election, has taken on a defiant stance in regards to the mounds of allegations against him.
Just a couple of weeks ago, he vowed to “fight against the radical rainbow mafia,” and stay in Congress forever.
That wasn’t very well-received, either…
Who are the gullible fools standing there listening to that compulsive liar? Absolutely pathetic. Each one has no moral compass.
— Chris Zozaski (@sausagecz) April 27, 2023
While there’s no law preventing people from serving in Congress while they’re indicted, it’s hard to imagine Santos finding much support, even in the Republican caucus. He doesn’t sit on any House committees, his local Republican Party has barred him from events and he’s been shut out of bipartisan meetings with New York’s congressional delegation.
Other New York Republican congresspeople, including four who also won battleground districts, are also working on legislation to prevent Santos from profiting off his lies. New York Republican reps. Anthony D’Esposito and Mike Lawler have called on him to resign.
On Wednesday, Utah Senator Mitt Romney, who publicly admonished Santos at the State of the Union, joined the chorus.
Previously, Santos has defended his work in Congress, despite the swirling scandals around him. But even the most ardent narcissist must admit: it’s difficult to represent one’s constitutions while in federal custody.
Scroll down for more reaction to Santos’ indictment…
Indictment season is wild! 💙
— Carol Wise (@cmwise25) May 10, 2023
welcome to the main stage Ms. Demeanor pic.twitter.com/xBWWAyHszz
— Matt Suber (@matthewsuber) May 10, 2023
The fall of George Santos takes a page from “The Producers” – i.e., he was only caught because he won. If he had lost, no one would’ve cared, and he would’ve continued his bush-league criminal activities uninterrupted.
— Rio Longacre (@RioLongacre) May 10, 2023
Fahd
Yet, I just read,
“Top House Republicans, who control the chamber by a narrow 222-213 margin, said they would wait for the legal process to play out before taking further action on Santos…”
No surprise there.
dbmcvey
But Kevin McCarthy will still support him.
gcjrandall
Yep. The Republican equivalent of sucking his d*ck.
ScottOnEarth
Of course he will. You’re not a real member of the GOP unless you’re a useless, lying piece of shit.
still_onthemark
I thought he’d get arrested by the fashion police, but arrested by the FBI is even better!
powersthatbe
Hey Washington DC YRs,
You said, “inspirational” remarks.
I think you meant “delusional”.
abfab
The Young Republicans are some of the most demented, spotty faced and frustrated little rug rats in the nation.
Pietro D
What a sad, deplorable man!
Thankfully, he belongs to the Republicans.
He should have been expelled from the House
almost immediately after Election, but pathetic
Speaker McCarthy holds onto to him cause he
needs every vote in a House of 222-213.
Both should be expelled! I’m sure McCarthy won’t
last too long, in any case; he’s made too many unwise
deals to procure his role as Speaker – like a bargain with the Devil!
Major
I saw on Twitter where this was the best episode of Drag Queen Story Hour ever.
Kangol2
Quoth the Smiths in “How Soon Is Now?”:
“When you say “it’s gonna happen now”
Well, when exactly do you mean?
See I’ve already waited too long
And all my hope is gone.”
“You shut your mouth, how can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does.”
And you need to be locked up, Kitara Santos!
All crime and no pay
makes for a very bad girl
who needs to be sent away!
Keebler ILF
Haha. How did the theme song to the TV show CHARMED work its way into this.
Fname Optional Lname
Of course the first thing out of her mouth is “But Joe Biden…” LOL! It never stops! The “Look Over There ” tactics is there precious go-to but at some point their supporters must at least raise an eyebrow? Even if it were found that Joe Biden and his family run a Charles Manson like cult it would still have absolutely nothing to do with Santos’ lies and illegal activities. Someone needs to tell George that the focus is on her and these “misunderstandings” will not go away
greekboy
Federal prosecutors say that there are more indictments to come…apparently right now they are only going after the “low hanging fruit.” I certainly hope Santos knows his carmen miranda rights
Bill
a disgrace to the gay cause
PhillyProud
Regressives in the House need him now. So, they’ll be silent. If they ever get a majority again, they’ll toss him aside. He is, after all, just a brown, gay man. The republican party is good at using people as a means to an end.
Jimmynj
This trash deserves to lose everything and rot in jail for decades. And where is this “husband” or is he made up too? Total GOP MAGA loser.
Cdominic1
I agree. There is an article about how Santos proposes marriage to guys after he meets them. The former pharmacist who Santos has been chasing even denies Santos is married.
Cdominic1
I laugh when I hear the media claiming that the fact of Santos having a former wife must mean he isn’t actually gay. Are you serious? People have been getting married for convenience reasons forever. I just rrad an article about how Santos told a former friend how he should marry a foreign woman, so she may not be deported. “There is money to be made from it”. is the quote. Santos is as gay as it comes; a huge slap in the face to our community. If he did marry a woman as a favor to her, be sure he made a good penny from it. Santos acting in kindness’ name only? Not this opportunist!